Depending on the situation, it CAN be better for the environment. But not always; that was my point above about distance and type of hauler. And I have huge doubts that much of the organic stuff sold in big stores (Safeway has an organic section now, produce looks crappy, small selection, costs twice as much...) is actually better for the environment. And nobody has ever offered me evidence otherwise; are they getting that stuff locally? it doesn't say locally grown. Are they shipping it to Chewelah from Kansas? Hell if I know.
Not quite so simple as making a bigger profit. Sometimes it's about getting anything to grow; some of the GM grain crops hold huge promise for helping feed people in areas that currently can't grow high-yield crops for crap. How much food can you grow in a desert? Well, there are people living there...and picking a variety that wards off insects and grows in the area may mean you're growing prickly pear. Good luck with feeding people on that.
And last I heard, there'd been no evidence that treating animals with antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistant bacteria in humans... but I have read several studies in which animals GOT antibiotic resistant bacteria from humans. And human doctors have just as much (if not more) to speak for the overuse of antibiotics. How many times do they actually do culture/sensitivity on a kid's sinus infection? they just throw antibiotics at it, same as everyone yells about in animals. (You don't eat meat anyway--what if I like my BGH? Maybe it's yummy! *larf*)
You do what you can. But it's not clear and simple. I don't want to hear "Eat organic, it's better for you and the world!" I want to hear where it was raised, how it was processed, how it was shipped. I don't want to hear "my dairy cow has an infection, but I can't treat it, because if I ever give her antibiotics, she has to be culled from my organic herd and shipped off" And yes, that happens... the cow may be only 3 years old and still producing well, but if a non-organic dairy doesn't want her, she's hamburger, because the options are hold her out of production for some bizarrely long time (which the producer can't afford to do) or get rid of her.
Damn, now I wish I had kept that article I read the other day; some bloke in Pennsylvania was selling O-milk to Horizon, which is all huge on "we treat our animals better". Same bloke on the same place was running a puppy mill that'd been cited several times for cruelty and poor conditions. Money quote: "The small dachshund with the broken back should be treated or euthanized." Nothing's simple.
no subject
Not quite so simple as making a bigger profit. Sometimes it's about getting anything to grow; some of the GM grain crops hold huge promise for helping feed people in areas that currently can't grow high-yield crops for crap. How much food can you grow in a desert? Well, there are people living there...and picking a variety that wards off insects and grows in the area may mean you're growing prickly pear. Good luck with feeding people on that.
And last I heard, there'd been no evidence that treating animals with antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistant bacteria in humans... but I have read several studies in which animals GOT antibiotic resistant bacteria from humans. And human doctors have just as much (if not more) to speak for the overuse of antibiotics. How many times do they actually do culture/sensitivity on a kid's sinus infection? they just throw antibiotics at it, same as everyone yells about in animals. (You don't eat meat anyway--what if I like my BGH? Maybe it's yummy! *larf*)
You do what you can. But it's not clear and simple. I don't want to hear "Eat organic, it's better for you and the world!" I want to hear where it was raised, how it was processed, how it was shipped. I don't want to hear "my dairy cow has an infection, but I can't treat it, because if I ever give her antibiotics, she has to be culled from my organic herd and shipped off" And yes, that happens... the cow may be only 3 years old and still producing well, but if a non-organic dairy doesn't want her, she's hamburger, because the options are hold her out of production for some bizarrely long time (which the producer can't afford to do) or get rid of her.
Damn, now I wish I had kept that article I read the other day; some bloke in Pennsylvania was selling O-milk to Horizon, which is all huge on "we treat our animals better". Same bloke on the same place was running a puppy mill that'd been cited several times for cruelty and poor conditions. Money quote: "The small dachshund with the broken back should be treated or euthanized." Nothing's simple.